Polling station staff training session Local government elections

Polling station staff training session Local government elections in England Wales

Introduction Returning Officer Electoral Services Manager

Which elections [Include all those that are applicable] are being held? • district, borough, county borough and unitary council elections • parish and community council elections • combined authority mayoral elections • mayoral referendums

Your role working in a polling station Your role is vital in ensuring voters, political parties, candidates and agents have confidence in the election process. It is essential that you: • act impartially at all times • comply with any instructions issued by the Returning Officer • ensure the secrecy and security of the ballot • call the elections office without delay in event of any problems

Staff in the polling station • Presiding Officers • Poll Clerks • Polling station inspectors All should: • be polite and professional • understand the process for issuing ballot papers • dress appropriately

Specific duties Certain duties must be carried out by the of the Presiding Officer. These are: Officer • Instructing a police officer to remove someone from the polling station (but they must be allowed to vote) • Asking the prescribed questions • Limiting the number of accredited observers present at any one time

Staying safe • never put the safety of anyone inside the polling station at risk • be aware of any potential risks to safety • inspect the premises regularly • if hazards are discovered – find a remedy • if an accident occurs – follow procedures • be careful when lifting heavy objects

What happens • Can’t make contact with key-holder • Can’t gain access to the polling station if……. . • • Staff failing to turn up or being late Problems displaying notices Wrong registers allocated to the station The ballot paper numbers do not match those pre-printed on the CNL

The polling station Setting up, layout and who can enter the polling station

Polling station layouts

Getting ready to open the polling station Before polls open…. • check layout of the station • prepare and check the stationery • arrange the ballot papers in numerical order • prepare register and corresponding number list • any problems - contact the elections office Just before 7 am…. • show box is empty • seal just before 7 • don’t allow candidates / agents to add seal at this time • be ready to greet voters

Who can enter • voters • Returning Officer and staff the polling • candidates and election agents station? • polling agents • police officers and PCSOs on duty • representatives of the Electoral Commission • accredited observers • under 18 s accompanying voters • companions of voters with disabilities

Accredited observers and Commission representatives

Customer care • • • Be professional Show a personal interest Put the voter first Be helpful and approachable Always use English or, in Wales, English or Welsh in the first instance Allow them to put their point across before responding Don’t say ‘No’, tell them what you can do for them and what they can do But the election rules must be followed at all times, no matter how insistent, upset or angry they are If in doubt, contact the elections office

Ensuring access for all voters – what you can do • Clear access to building and in station • Options for voting with the assistance of the PO or a companion • Offer enlarged sample ballot paper as a guide or the tactile voting device to blind and partially sighted voters • Make sure you know how to use the tactile voting device • Refer to Appendix 1 of the polling station handbook

Who can and cannot vote? Using the electoral register and corresponding number list(s)

Who is eligible to vote at the polling station in the local government elections? • Electors with no letters or dates before their name • Electors who are 18 years of age or over on the day of the election – date on or before polling day before their name • Electors with a ‘G’, ‘K’ or ‘L’ before their name • [only include if relevant] Electors who have registered anonymously - will have an ‘N’ instead of a name

Issuing the ballot papers • Marking the register and the CNL – Ask the elector to confirm their name and address – Mark their elector number in the register – Call out the name and elector number of the elector – Enter the elector number on the Corresponding Number List (CNL) • Do NOT write the elector number on the ballot paper! • Ballot papers – Open up fully so the whole paper is visible – Official mark, ballot paper number and unique Identifying mark (UIM)

Example Corresponding Number List (CNL) BC 27/1

What to check for on the back of the ballot paper

Queen’s Walk Marking the register BC JP 32 4 LT 411 G Vella, Eva 1 412 F Jolly, Simon 1 413 K Vella, Christina 1 414 Brown, Robert 3 415 Evans, Gareth 5 416 Singh, Parvinder 7 417 Myers, Martin 7 418 A Bishop, Stephanie 15 Watts, Judith 15 418/1 02 Feb

• Anonymous electors Anonymous – Must have poll card electors [slide to be used only – Marked ‘N’ on register – Name and address must not be called out if relevant]

Secrecy of the • Make sure voters go to polling booths individually so that their right to a secret vote is protected. • No other person is allowed to accompany a voter to a polling booth unless a voter who is disabled or unable to read has requested assistance to vote.

If voters ask you how to vote…. . • If they ask you how to vote, read out the instructions on the ballot paper • If they make a mistake, follow the spoilt procedure • Don’t get into conversations about the council, the election or anything other than how to vote • More information in the polling station handbook

What happens if…? • you are handed a certificate of employment • a voter spoils a ballot paper • a voter has nominated a proxy but the voter arrives before the proxy • a person arrives to vote but the register indicates the person has already voted • a person arrives to vote but the register indicates the person is a postal voter • a person arrives wanting to vote as an emergency proxy • a person believes they should be on the register but they are not listed • there is a disturbance at the polling station

The prescribed questions • No enquiry or questioning of electors is allowed other than asking the prescribed questions • The prescribed questions must be asked: – when a candidate, an election agent or polling agent requests them – before issuing a tendered ballot paper • The prescribed questions should be asked: – when you suspect personation – when a registered elector is clearly under age – when an elector states their name is not as shown in the register of electors

Postal votes • voters can hand in their postal votes at any polling station in [the ward] • returned postal ballot packs must be stored, sealed and labelled as instructed • postal votes will be collected during the day. Any not collected will be returned with the ballot box at close of poll

Close of poll The procedures to be followed

Managing a queue Just before 10 pm: – make sure those waiting can cast their vote – check that anyone waiting to vote is at the correct polling station for their address At 10 pm: – bring all the waiting electors into the room/building and close the door, OR – if the room/building is not big enough, a member of the team should stand at the end of the queue to mark it – continue to issue ballot papers until everyone who was in the queue by 10 pm has voted Anyone who was not in the queue at 10 pm must NOT be issued with a ballot paper.

Close of poll • Once the last voter has voted, seal the ballot box • Candidates/agents are also entitled to affix seals to the ballot box at this point

After close of poll • Complete ballot paper account accurately • The ballot paper account must be placed in the envelope provided – keep it with the ballot box • Ensure all documents placed in correct packets and signed as appropriate • Poll Clerks to assist packing up station to allow Presiding Officer to do these important tasks

Any questions?

Additional information • Election team contacts • Electoral Commission website www. electoralcommission. org. uk • Feedback sheets